Seal



lwatented Fe. l ll@ aten HROLD V. IWELE, 0F EAMMCND, INDIANA, ASSIGNORTO STANDARD OIL COMPANY, l? WHITNG, NDANA, A COBPORATIQN OF INDIANA SEALApplication led October 31, 1927. Serial No. 229,990.

The presentinvention relates to improvements in seals or vent valves,more particularly as applied to the vent pipes from the vapor space ofgasoline storage tanks and storage tanks for similarvolatile liquids. ltwill be fully understood from the following description illustrated bythe accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan View of a valve or seal 1o construction embodying thepresent invention on the line 1 on Fig. 2, the cover being removed; l x

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross-section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; and

Figs. Ll and 5 are details illustrating the mounting of the invertedcup.

rlhe seal of the present invention is an improvenient on theconstruction of the seal shown in Patent No. 1,529,682, granted March17, 1925, on the application of the present inventor and the Patent No.1,553,848, granted September 15, 1925, on the application of George W..Chenicek. Y

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the numeral 5 lindicates avertical vent pipe section which communicates with a danged pipe 6adapted to be connected to a 3o vent pipe (not shown) from a storagetank.

'lhe vent pipe section;` 5 is preferably of rectangular cross-sectionand is surrounded by a pan 7 of rectangular horizontal section withsuitable outwardly flaring sides 8. @ver the vent pipe 5 is provided aninverted rectangular cup 9, the sides of which surround and en- `closethe upper end of the vent pipe section 5. The inverted cup 9 carries apivot rod 10 which preferably extends across it and prono trudes oneither side to engage lugs 11 on the sides of the pan 7. The lugs 11 arecut away -to receive the rod 10 as shown in Fig. 4. The inverted cup 9is of sucient depth so that its sides enter a body of sealing liquidmainte Ytained in the pan 7.

The inverted cup 9 is constructed upon the With this construction, as islater apparent,

when the sides of the inverted cu'p 9 are partially immersed in liquidin the pan 7, an eX- cess of pressure Within the vent pipe 5 will tendto cause one end of the cup 9 to rise, that end being the portion on theleft of the pivot rod 10, as shown in Fi sf 1 and 2. `When the pressureWithin the v nt pipe 5 is reduced below that of the exterior atmosphere,reverse action takes place, the -side of the inverted cup 9 having thelarer area, being depressed.

Arsl described in atent No. 1,553,848, previously referred to, the ends13 of the invert'- ed cup 9 which are arallel to the pivot rod 10 may becut away rom their centers-to each side as shown at 14, to form openingsof gradually decreasing area as csaid ends descend into the -liquid inthe pan A7 The sides may be similarly cut away as at 15. As a result ofthis construction, as the end of the pan is forced down into the liquid,a gradually decreasing a erture for the escape of vapors is providethereby' tending to prevent sudden rushes of gases which would tend torock the cup.' ln practice,.it is found that-'this expedient is not sonecessary on the end of the cup at which air is admitted and accordinglythat end is shown unprovided with cut away portions.

As afurther means for preventing oscil-` lation ofthe cup, weight meansdesignated generally 16, `are provided, preferably on each side of thecu Each Weight means 16 comprises a strap l? adapted to lie on thesurface of the cup and having depending portions 18 which extenddownwardly tothe bottom of the pan 7. At, their lower ends they areconnected to a platel of substantial surface area. This plate maysuitably be an anglo-piece 19 of light metal. From each of the dependingportions 18, straps 20 extend to the pivot rod 10 Which passes throughperforations therein so that when the cup 9lt1lts, carrying with it oneoit the vveiglit members 16, the latter acts as a rigid unit not subJectto irregular movements which would tend to `cause erratic movement et.the cup.

rilbe Weight members 16 are of such mass that they prevent tilting ofthe seal u ntil 'a certain excess pressure exists on one side or theother o' the inverted cup. When this excess pressure is exerted thecup'tilts lifting one of the Weights 16 on its rising end. lVhen theexcess pressure is relieved the cup returns to its normal horizontalposition. l it tends to go further it is relieved ot the aforesaidWeight member and the other side of the 'cup ascends, picking up theother Weight 16 which acts in opposition ci the tilting movement. Notonly does the Weight of the members 18 tend to prevent oscillation, butthe flat surfaces of the members 19 oder a substantial resistance tomovement through the sealing liquid. As before pointed out the members19 are capable of moving in a single path so that the resistance isuniform and Without irregularities.

As previously indicated, moet of the rocl- 1 ing to which the invertedcup is subject ap, pears to occur when vapors are being vented.

Accordingly only the Weight 'means on the larger side oli the cup, thatis the side on the left in Figs. 1 and 2, may beiprovided With a damperplate. Since, however, the Weight means on both sides act to prevent orminimize rocking however induced, it is preferred to provide Weightmeans on both sides of the cup. A

A suitable protecting cover 21 is provided over the pan 7, beingsupported thereon by lugs 22.

Although the present invention has been described in connection with thedetails of a speciic embodiment thereof, it is not intended ythat suchdetails shall be regardedI as limitations upon the scope of theinvention except in so tar as included in the accompanying claims.

I claim:

1. A seal comprising an inverted cup adapted to tilt to one side ortheother in accordance with the ditlerence of pressure above and belowsaid cup, means adapted to maintain sealing liquid around said cup,conduit means eomn'iunicating "with 4the underside of said cup, Weightmeans adapted to be lifted by an end o said cup when it rises, and aresistance plate adapted to be located in said liquid and constrained tominero move by said Weight means in a uniform path therethrough.

2. A seal 4comprising an open conduit member communicating with a vaporspace, a pan surrounding said conduit member and adapted to contain aliquid, an inverted pivoted cup over said conduit member. and having itssides partially immersed in liquid in the pan, said cup having itscenter of pressure offset from its center of gravity, a weight member ononev side of said cup adapted to be raised by said side when it rises,said Weight member being provided With a resistance plate adapted to beimmersed in said liquid and constrained to move therethrough 'with theWeight in a denite regular path.

3. A seal comprising an open conduit member communicating with a vaporspace, a pan surrounding said conduit member and adapted to contain aliquid, an inverted pivoted cup over said conduit member and having itssides partially immersed in the liquid in the pan, said cup having itscenter of pressure otl'set from. its center of gravity, a Weight memberon one side of said cup adapted to be raised by said side when it rises,said Weight member being constituted by a rigid structure pivotallymounted and comprising a resistance plate adapted to be immersed in theliquid.

d. A seal comprising an inverted cup adapted to tilt to one side or theother in aocordance with the did/creuse of pressure above and belovvsaid cup, means adapted to maintain sealing liquid around said cup,conduit means communicating with the underside of said cup, a pair of'weight means, one of which is adapted to be lifted by one end of thecup when it rises and the other is adapted to be raised by the other endof the cup When it rises., and a pair of resistancev plates adapted tobe located in said liquid and constrained to move in uniform pathstherethrough.

5. A seal comprising an open conduit member communicating with a vaporspace, a pan surrounding said conduit member and adapted to contain aliquid, an inverted pivoted cup over said conduit member and having itssides partially immersed in liquid in the pan, said cup having its'center of pressure odset from its center of gravity, a pair of Weightmembers. one on eachside of said cup and adapted to be raised by thecorrespending side of the cup when it rises, each of said weight membersbeing provided with a resistance plate adapted to be immersed in saidliquid and constrained to move therethrough with the Weight in adefinite regular path.

6. A seal comprising an open conduit member communicating With a vaporspace, a pan surrounding said conduit member and adapted to contain aliquid, an inverted ena ,Menem pivoteci cup over said conduit member andhaving its sides partially immersed in the iiqui in the an, said cup4having its center of pressure o set from itsrcenter of gravity, a pairei' Weight members, one on each side of seid @up and adapte to be raisedby the eerresponoiiing side of the @up when it rises, earth efr saidWeight members being consti- 'iii'zed by e rigid structure pivoaiiymounted and comprising a. resistaiice piste adapted to be immersed imiheliquid,

En inesiimony whereof' iiiave hereunto set my hand this ih dey ofetober, 192?,

MRQLD V. ATi/WELL.

